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Jamestown Man Charged with Violation of Sex Offender Registry, TBI Says

By Ronni Chase Aug 8, 2025 | 10:11 AM

The TBI says a Jamestown man has been charged with violating the Sex Offender Registry.   After receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning child sexual abuse material being distributed on Kik, Agents determined the account belonged to 59-year-old Joel Merriel, who is a registered sex offender in Fentress County.  Merriel was arrested and booked into the Fentress County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He subsequently bonded out of jail. The investigation remains ongoing.